Quick release attachment for parachute harness



Feb. 13, 1945. Q ASHTON 2,369,203

QUICK RELEASE ATTACHMENT FOR PARACHUTE HARNESS Filed May 16, 1944 i a j 20 7 J5 INVENTOR 4 Charles Edwin fls'bton ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 13, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE amok mm ATTACHMENT-FOR rmcnu'ra nanrmss Charles Edwin Ashton, Stockton, Calif. Application May 16, 1944, Serial No. 535,8'l'l 9 Claims. (Ci. 24-211) This invention relates to a releasable device for a parachute harness, myprincipal object being to provide a quick release attachment for a harness of this type so arranged that the actuation of a single conventional type of catch is all that is necessary for the paratrooper or aviator to free himself entirely from the'harness upon reaching the same time enables the shoulder and leg' straps to be quickly disengaged from the wearer, leaving him free to step clear 01- the harness and the parachute attached thereto without loss of valuable time. v

At the same time there is no possibility of the attachment becoming accidentally uni'astened while the user is suspended in the air.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device, and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplishby means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of the main units of my quick release attachment, disengaged from each other.

Figure 2 is a plan view oi the attachment as connected and engaged with the shoulder and leg straps.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the attachment,

partly in section.

to which it is secured by rivets 5 or the like. At

its end nearest the belt a latch plate 8 projects at right angles thereto, said plate 4 adjacent its opposite end being provided with a slot I extending transversely of the plate 4 or at right angles to the longitudinal plane of the belt. Intermediate the ends of the plate 4, or between the latch plate and slot, a post 8 projects outwardly from the plate, said post being considerably shorterthan the latch plate.

- The unit 2 comprises a plate 9 also substantially the width of the belt 3 and adapted to overlap the plate 4, and having a shallow socket id in its under side to seat on the post at the outer end of the latter and prevent relative longitudinal movement of the plates, This post of course also maintains the plates separated a predetermined and definite distance when they are overlapped. I

The outer face of the plate 9 carries a longitudinally extending casing II for a spring-advanced latch bolt I! of conventional beveled'form, which projects from the casing in facing relation to the latch plate 8 and overhanging the adjacent end of plate I to enter a slot I3 in said latch plate.

At its opposite end the plate 9 is provided with Beyond the finger a plate extension l8 rigid with the finger and plate 9 is provided on the same level or plane as the plate 4 and forms the from the outer face of the plate 4, substantially no means for securing the other end of the belt 3 thereto by rivets ll or the like.

The harness as usual includes shoulder straps ID, as well as leg engaging straps, and with my releasing device all said straps terminate with a free end and each end is provided with an extended terminal eye plate l9 having an opening 29 to freely fit over the post; the spacing between the plates 9 and 4 when the plate 9 is seated on the post being sufl'lcient to receive the four eye plates l9 therebetween 'in superimposed relation, as shown in Fig. 3. There is also suflicient clearance between the latch plate 9 and the finger M, on opposite sides of the post 8. to enable the plates l9 and the straps to which they are attached to extend in the necessary angular relation to the belt, as indicated in Fig. 2. Each strap if desired may have a take-up buckle therein, as shown at 2|, in connection with the belt 3, so as to adapt the same harness for diflerent sized persons.

In operation, when donning the harness and with the belt 3 and the various straps generally in place, the eyes of the shoulder straps are first placed over the post, followed by the eyes of the leg straps. The unit 2 is then coupled or latched to the unit I by first tilting the plate 9 so that the lip IE will enter the slot 1 and pass under said plate, and then swinging the unit 2 down over the unit I so that the latch bolt will snap into place in the slot l3 and the post will enter the socket l0. It'will thus be seen that the unit 2 cannot possibly by disengaged from the unit I without first positively retracting the latch bolt, so that not only is the belt prevented from becoming unfastened but the shoulder and leg straps are also positively held from relative disconnection and separation.

The latch bolt is easily retracted. to release the unit I, by means of a finger element 22 connected to the bolt and projecting from the casing II. This casing and the element 22 being directly in front of the wearer of the harness adjacent his waist line is in a convenient position for quick and ready operation. Once the belt is released the unit 2 may be thrown back clear of the post and the lip l5 removed through the slot, and the various eye members l9 may be then quickly slid ofi the post, enabling the wearer to step clear of the entire harness and of course the attached parachute as well.

From the foregoing description it-will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forthherein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, whatl claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A quick-release attachment for parachute harness, said harness including a belt having separated ends andbody engaging straps each having one free end; the attachment comprising cooperating units connected to the ends of the belts, a releasable catch connection between the units, and means between the units and the free ing as extensions thereof, said plates being adapted to overlap, releasable catch means on and connecting the plates and operative only when the plates are overlapped, and means between the plates and free ends of the straps to releasably secure said endsin connection with the plates when the latter are overlapped.

4. A quick-release attachment for parachute harness, such harness including a belt having separated ends and body engaging straps each having one free end; the attachment comprising plates secured to the ends of the belt and projecting as extensions thereof, said plates being adapted to overlap, releasable catch means on and connecting the plates and operative only when the platesare overlapped, a post on one plate projecting toward the. other plat and maintaining the plates spaced while they are overlapped, and eye members on the free ends of the different straps engageable independently over the post in superimposed relation before the plates are overlapped.

5. An attachment as in claim 4 in which, said other plate is formed with a socket to receive the outer end of the post.

6. A quick-release attachment for parachute harness, such harness including a belt having ends of the straps to hold said ends in releasable engagement with the units only when the catch means is engaged.

2. A quick-release attachment for parachute having one free end; the attachment comprising a quick-release catch device connecting the ends of the belt, and meansbetween the device and the freeends of the straps to connect said ends with the catch device when the latter is engaged and releasable therefrom only when device is released.

3. A' quick-release attachment for parachute harness, such harnes including a belt having separated ends and body engaging straps each having one free end; the attachment comprising plates securedto the ends of the belt and projectharness, said harness including a belt having separated ends and body engaging straps each separated ends and body engaging straps each having one free end; the attachment comprising plates secured to the ends of the belt and projecting as extensions thereof, said plates bein adapted to overlap, a post on one plate intermediate its ends projecting from one face thereof toward the other'plate and maintaining the plates spaced when overlapped, eye members on the free ends of the straps engageable separately over the post before the plates are overlapped, a latch plate projecting from said one face of the one plate beyond the corresponding end of the other plate, a slidable latch bolt mounted on the other plate and engageable with the latch plate, and means between the plates adjacent the opposite ends thereof to form a releasable hinge connection between the plates.

7. An attachment as in claim 6, in which said other plate is formed with a socket to receive the outer end of the post to prevent relative longitudinal movement between the plates.

8. An attachment as in claim 6, in which said means comprises a finger depending from said cther plate, the one plate having a slot to receive the finger, and a lip on the outer end of the finger bpzilagecting in a direction away from the latch 9. A quick release attachment for parachute harness, such harness including a belt having separated ends and body engaging straps each having one free end; the attachment comprising plates secured to the ends of the belt and projecting as extensions thereof, said plates being adapted to overlap, releasable catch means on and connecting the plates and operative only when the plates are overlapped, eye members on the free ends of the straps, and means on one plate engaging the eye members in superimposed relation and also maintaining the plates separated the distance necessary to receive said superimposed members therebetween;

CHARLES EDWIN ASHTON. 

